Department for Transport

Eurostar: Freight

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with Eurotunnel and Eurostar about using surplus capacity and rolling stock for the conveyance of freight by rail.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government engages regularly with the international rail sector to discuss a range of issues, including freight traffic flows and proposals to operate additional intermodal rail freight services through the Channel Tunnel, similar to those already operating. It is ultimately a commercial decision for rail freight operators as to whether to facilitate new services, but the Government is open to engaging with industry-led proposals and potential new operators where there is a commercial proposition. There is currently sufficient capacity through the Channel Tunnel to run additional, conventional rail freight services similar to those already operating. Running additional services would be dependent on commercial demand for such services, which has always been a key challenge to the sector.

Mediterranean Sea: Shipping

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks, if any, for UK shipping crossing the eastern Mediterranean.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department for Transport regularly assesses the risks posed to British-flagged shipping worldwide. Utilising the fusion approach to security, we work with the UK Defence and Intelligence Community to monitor events in the Eastern Mediterranean. This information informs the guidance and advice we promulgate to industry. Where a new threat is identified, we advise the industry accordingly, so they can review and adapt their risk assessment and operating procedures.

Ferries: Isles of Scilly

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they (1) have given, and (2) plan to offer, any support to companies providing lifeline services (a) to, and (b) within, the Isles of Scilly; if not, why not; and what is the funding source for any such support.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Since the start of the pandemic and through to March 2021, up to £9.7 million has been made available by the Government to support lifeline services to and within the Isles of Scilly. These services are deemed to be of critical need, to deliver vital freight and provide the means of accessing key life support facilities. This bespoke package of support is in addition to the £330 billion package of financial support the Government provided to all sectors to support them through the pandemic. We are working closely with the Council of the Isles of Scilly to administer the funding and to monitor the impact of the pandemic to ensure that these lifeline services are maintained.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Art Works: Trade Agreements

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government howartworks created in the UK but from materials originating elsewhere will be treated by the EUunder the region of origin rules as set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement reached between the United Kingdom and the European Union, published on 24 December 2020.

Lord Callanan: Artworks classified in Chapter 97 of the Harmonised System (Works of art, collectors’ pieces and antiques) are currently eligible for import at zero tariffs under both the UK Global Tariff and the EU Common External Tariff. This means that businesses who trade artwork between the UK and EU do not need to comply with Rules of Origin under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to export or import under zero tariffs.Traders should refer to the UK Global Tariff: (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tariffs-on-goods-imported-into-the-uk)and to the EU Common External Tariff: (https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/trade-non-eu-countries/import-eu_en) If in the future the EU Common External Tariff changed to make artwork subject to tariffs, artwork produced in the UK would have to comply with Rules of Origin to export zero tariff to the EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. In that scenario, UK producers should refer to the full Rules of Origin requirements set out in the text of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Detailed guidance is available on GOV.UK:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-of-origin-for-goods-moving-between-the-uk-and-eu

Skiing: Qualifications

Lord Moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the status of negotiations between the UK and European Alpine Nations to allowthe qualifications ofUK ski instructors to be granted recognition in EU member states.

Lord Callanan: The UK and EU have now agreed the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) which came into force on 31st December 2020.   As part of the TCA, the UK and EU have agreed a framework under which both parties may agree arrangements on the recognition of professional qualifications (such as mutual recognition agreements) covering the UK and all 27 EU Member States. The first step towards such an arrangement is for professional bodies or authorities to submit a joint recommendation to the UK-EU Partnership Council. Once an arrangement is adopted under the TCA, UK professionals will be able to use the terms outlined in the arrangement to secure recognition of their professional qualifications, helping them to provide services within EU Member States. In due course, professionals will be able to take advantage of any profession-specific EU-wide arrangements agreed under the TCA framework. Until this point, UK-qualified professionals who wish to supply services in the EU should seek recognition of their qualifications according to the local laws and regulations of the relevant EU Member State. It is up to appropriate local regulators within alpine nations to determine whether UK-qualified professionals are permitted to practise in their territories.

Green Homes Grant Scheme

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a value for money test is applied to all quotations submitted for partial support under the Green Homes Grant scheme; and if so, whether anysuch assessments are required to be made by appropriately qualified persons with knowledge of local conditions.

Lord Callanan: The scheme administrator checks all applications to ensure that they are eligible for the scheme, and that the applications are value for money and reflective of typical market prices. These checks take account of factors such as different sizes of property, types of system and geographic area. This ensures that government funding is spent appropriately. The Green Homes Grant scheme aims to ensure that households are given the best possible service when installing greener adaptations. All primary installers must be TrustMark registered, as well as Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified for heat and Publicly Available Specification (PAS) certified for energy efficiency. It is through this that it is ensured that installations are of the highest quality.

Business: Regulation

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Callanan on 15 December (HLWS646), what plans they have to consult with civil society groups and the wider public as part of their reviewinto how regulatory impacts are assessed in advance of setting the next Business Impact Target.

Lord Callanan: The Government is required by the Small Business, Enterprise, and Employment (SBEE) Act 2015 to set a Business Impact Target at the start of each Parliament, ensuring that we remain accountable and transparent to both business and the public for the decisions we make. As set out in the Manifesto, we “will strive to achieve the right regulatory balance between supporting excellent business practice and protecting workers, consumers and the environment” (p.33). The Government does not believe that the current methods for assessing regulatory impacts allow for this. Therefore, we will consult with civil society groups and the wider public to ensure the impact of regulations are reflected more effectively, so as to continue to provide the necessary protections without placing unnecessary burdens on business. The Government will set out the details of who we intend to consult when we come to announce proposals for the review of the Business Impact Target.

Northern Ireland Office

Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee

Baroness Hoey: To ask Her Majesty's Government who constitutes the full membership of the Specialised Committee on Ireland and Northern Ireland Protocol.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Officials from the UK and EU attend the Specialised Committee, as set out in Article 165 of the Withdrawal Agreement. As the Government committed to in the New Decade, New Approach deal, the Northern Ireland Executive attends the Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee whenever the Irish Government forms part of the EU delegation.

Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee

Baroness Hoey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the Specialised Committee on Ireland and Northern Ireland Protocol has met since 1 January; and when the minutes of any such meetings will be published.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee last met on 17 December 2020. Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, it is for the co-chairs of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Specialised Committee to decide to make a summary of the minutes public. Statements following the meetings of the Specialised Committee are published on gov.uk.

Department of Health and Social Care

Warren Medical

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) discussions they have had, or (2) approaches were made to, or by, Warren Medical Limited about the provision of services and supplies related to COVID-19.

Lord Bethell: The Department has not had any discussions or approaches from Warren Medical Limited about the provision of services and supplies related to COVID-19.

Accelerated Access Collaborative: Prosthetics

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative has supported new types of socket for prosthetic limbs.

Lord Bethell: Whilst the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) has not directly provided support specifically for new types of socket for prosthetic limbs to date, partners of the AAC have provided support in this area, including through the Small Business Research Initiative.

Nabiximols: Multiple Sclerosis

Lord Dubs: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made about the barriers to prescribing Sativex to treat spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis; and what plans they have to work with NHS England and organisations such as the MS Society to address any such barriers.

Lord Bethell: The Department has made no recent assessment. However, Departmental officials regularly engage with stakeholders and organisations such as the MS Society, to discuss a range of issues, including concerns relating to access to treatments.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government what administrative arrangements are in place to ensure that people comply with the requirement to receive a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; and what information is being retained as to the identity of thosewho do not receive a second dose of a vaccine having been scheduled to do so.

Lord Bethell: The United Kingdom operates a system of informed consent for vaccinations. When advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation informed changes to the timings of the secondary dose, general practitioners (GPs) were asked to rebook the appointments. Vaccination centres book in appointments with individuals for both the first and second dose at the same time. Additionally, vaccinations are noted in GP health records and the National Immunisation Management System, which can be accessed by the national booking service to follow up on any missed second doses. Previous incomplete vaccinations, where the course has been interrupted or delayed, should be resumed using the same vaccination. However, the first dose should not be repeated.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have had any discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO) about when the governments of (1) Italy, and (2) France, first reported the emergence of COVID-19 toWHO; if so, when in (a) 2019, and (b) 2020, any such emergence was reported by those countries; what assessment they have made of reports of COVID-19 appearing in waste water in Barcelona in 2019; and when they became aware of any such reports.

Lord Bethell: The United Kingdom has not had any specific discussions with the World Health Organization on the emergence of COVID-19 in France and Italy. The UK Government received notification of France and Italy’s first COVID-19 cases through the European Early Warning and Response System. France reported its first three COVID-19 cases on 24 January 2020. Italy reported its first two COVID-19 cases on 31 January 2020.The Government has not made any assessment of reports of COVID-19 appearing in wastewater in Barcelona in 2019. In the UK, a national wastewater surveillance programme was announced on 12 June 2020 by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish and Welsh devolved administrations, focusing on sewage monitoring as part of an advance warning system to detect new outbreaks of COVID-19.

Mental Health: Children and Young People

Baroness Fall: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the reported level of (1) anorexia nervosa, (2) self-harm, and (3) suicide, amongst young and adolescent girls since 23 March 2020; and what were the reported such levels from 23 March 2019 to 22 March 2020.

Lord Bethell: Information on the incidence of anorexia nervosa among young and adolescent girls under the age of 18 years old is not available due to poor diagnosis recording in the Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS).Between 23 March 2019 and 22 March 2020 there were 493 reported incidents of self-harm amongst girls under the age of 18 years old reported in MHSDS by the secondary care mental health services. For the period 23 March 2020 to 30 November 2020, there were 399 incidents. These numbers are based on the data submitted by the secondary care mental health services to MHSDS and include only incidents of self-harm in the mental health hospitals. The numbers include November provisional data and are likely to be an undercount of the true activity. This is the latest data available to NHS Digital.For suicide, the Office for National Statistics reports that there were 63 suicide registrations relating to girls aged 10-19 years old in 2019 (49 registrations between Jan-Sept 2019). Provisional information for January to September 2020 (Jan-Sep) shows that there were 24 suicide registrations relating to girls aged 10-19 years old. All deaths caused by suicide in England are investigated by coroners. Given the length of time it takes to hold an inquest, most deaths are registered around five to six months after they occurred. The number of suicides registered in 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the pandemic causing further delays on the coroner’s service resulting in further delays to inquests.

Mental Health: Children and Young People

Baroness Fall: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the reported level of (1) extreme anxiety, (2) self-harm, and (3) suicide, amongst young and adolescent boys since 23 March 2020; and what were the reported such levels from 23 March 2019 to 22 March 2020.

Lord Bethell: Between 23 March 2019 and 22 March 2020, there were 34,754 boys reported in the Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) under 18 years old who were referred to secondary mental health services with a primary reason for referral of anxiety. For the period 23 March 2020 to 30 November 2020, 20,842 boys were referred.The MHSDS shows that between 23 March 2019 and 22 March 2020 there were 122 incidents of self-harm reported by boys under the age of 18 years old, and between 23 March 2020 and 30 November 2020, there were 82 incidents of self-harm. These numbers are based on the data submitted by the secondary care mental health services to MHSDS and include only incidents of self-harm in the mental health hospitals. The numbers include November provisional data and are likely to be an undercount of the true activity. This is the latest data available to NHS Digital.For suicide, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that there were 123 suicide registrations relating to boys aged 10-19 years old in 2019 (92 registrations between January and September 2019). Provisional information for January to September 2020 shows that there were 80 suicide registrations relating to boys aged 10-19 years old. All deaths caused by suicide in England are investigated by coroners. Given the length of time it takes to hold an inquest, most deaths are registered around five to six months after they occurred. The number of suicides registered in 2020 should be interpreted with caution due to the pandemic causing further delays on the coroner’s service resulting in further delays to inquests.

Coronavirus: Immigration

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on immigration to the UK.

Lord Bethell: The Department has made no such assessment.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Lord Goodlad: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee about COVID-19 vaccinations; and what has been the outcome of any such discussions.

Lord Bethell: The Government, with NHS England and NHS Improvement, has met with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee to discuss community pharmacies’ involvement in the COVID–19 vaccination service.Some pharmacists and members of their team are already working with general practitioners to deliver the vaccine in many areas of the country and, as more supply becomes available, community pharmacies will play a major role in the programme. Since 11 January 2021, some pharmacies have already been administering COVID-19 vaccinations.

Department for Education

Employment: Young People

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development COVID-19 and the youth labour market, published in December 2020; and what steps they are taking to raise awareness of traineeships.

Baroness Berridge: This government recognises the challenges currently faced by young people looking to enter the labour market, as highlighted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s report. Through our Plan for Jobs, we are committed to providing young people with the tools they need to begin and progress in their careers and are supporting businesses across the country to meet their skills needs, now and in the future.Apprenticeships will be more important than ever in helping businesses to recruit the right people and develop the skills they need to recover and grow. We have extended the incentive payments for employers of up to £2000 for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25 until the end of March 2021. It is encouraging that employers continue to see the value apprentices can bring to their businesses; as of 1 December employers had claimed incentive payments for over 11,000 apprentices.The Kickstart scheme is investing £2 billion to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6 month work placements for eligible 16–24 year olds. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to support young people on Kickstart placements to progress to apprenticeships where this is right for them and their employers. To support this, we have ensured that employers taking on an apprentice who has previously been on the Kickstart scheme are eligible for the incentive payments.In addition, we are working on the largest ever expansion of traineeships and have introduced £1000 incentive payments for employers who offer traineeship work placements to support this. We are taking a number of steps to raise awareness of traineeships among young people, employers, and providers. We have created a new online collection of free resources for schools including fact sheets, case studies and a guide for teachers. We are working with stakeholders, including the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, and youth focused organisations to raise awareness amongst providers and young people. We are also working with the National Careers Service and DWP to ensure that young people understand the different options available to them and are supported on the right path, and with major employers and sector bodies to develop new pipelines to apprenticeships opportunities.

Further Education

The Lord Bishop of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the Further Education White Paper.

Baroness Berridge: We published the White Paper Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth on 21 January 2021.

Children in Care: Supported Housing

Baroness Doocey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they regularly (1) collect, and (2) assess, data from all relevant local authorities relating to the placement of children and young people in unregulated accommodation.

Baroness Berridge: Information on children who are looked after by local authorities (including information on placement setting) is submitted to the department by local authorities on an annual basis. The latest collection, which closed in August 2020, related to children who were looked after during the year 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.The latest information on children looked after in England, including the number of looked after children placed in independent and semi-independent placements on 31 March 2020, is contained in the ‘Children looked after in England’ statistics release, which is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions. Information on numbers of looked after children by type of placement can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/9fb76a8e-ab86-4746-871a-925810cfb302.Children in care and care leavers are some of the most vulnerable children and young people in society. We must do all that we can to ensure that they have access to suitable, safe and secure accommodation that meets their needs and keeps them safe. Our consultation on unregulated provision for children in care and care leavers asked for views on a set of ambitious proposals to reform unregulated provision for children in care and care leavers, including banning the placement of children under the age of 16 in these settings and introducing national standards for providers to drive up quality, keeping young people safer and delivering better outcomes.The consultation received a strong response from the sector, and care-experienced young people. We will publish the government’s response to the consultation in due course.

Ministry of Justice

Divorce

Baroness Deech: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Stewart of Dirleton on 6 January (HL Deb, col 131), what progress they have made with the review of financial provision law.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The Government has committed to set up a Lord Chancellor’s working group to assess any evidence for changing the law of financial provision on divorce and dissolution. This review will be led by evidence, which is yet to be gathered, on whether there are problems with the current law. The Government will seek to ensure a balance of members from across different professions. The Government will make an announcement in due course.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Turkey: Unmanned Air Vehicles

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports thatEDO MBM Technology Ltd supplied Hornet bomb-racks and fuel pumps for the Bayraktar TB2 drones used by the government of Turkey in the Nagorno-Karabakh region; and if so, what action they have taken in response to such reports.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We consider all our export applications thoroughly against a strict risk assessment framework and keep all licences under careful and continual review as standard. The UK complies with the OSCE arms embargo relating to the NagornoKarabakh region, which is considered as part of our export licensing process, and HMG has not issued licences contrary to the arms embargo.

Turkey: Unmanned Air Vehicles

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to investigate reports that the government of Turkey has used drones against Turkish citizens in 11 regions of that country since 2016; and what representations they have made to the government of Turkey to request an explanation for the deaths of Zehra Berkel, Hebun Mele Xelil and Amina Waysi in June 2020.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We regularly discuss with the Turkish Government the need to respect human rights and avoid civilian casualties during military activities within Turkey. Regarding reports of Turkish military operations causing civilian casualties in Kobane in Syria, where the three named individuals died in June 2020, we expect all sides to the Syrian conflict to respect their obligations towards civilians under international humanitarian law. We will continue to engage with Turkey on this important issue.

Gibraltar: Politics and Government

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect the interests of Gibraltarians.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: On 31 December the UK, working side by side with the Governments of Gibraltar and Spain, reached agreement on a political framework to form the basis of a separate treaty between the UK and the EU regarding Gibraltar. This covers issues of key importance to Gibraltar and the surrounding region, and the Governments of both the UK and Gibraltar judge that it provides a firm basis to safeguard Gibraltar's interests. We remain steadfast in our support for Gibraltar and its sovereignty.

Libya: Peace Negotiations

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they support the proposal by the United Nations for the provision ofmonitors for the ceasefire in Libya, and in particular to oversee the withdrawal of foreign forces.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK supports the comprehensive ceasefire brokered by the UN in October 2020, and welcomes the recent commitment shown by Libyans to engage constructively in the UN-led political process. The UN has a central role to role to play in supporting implementation of the ceasefire, including the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries, a key step towards a sustainable political settlement for all Libyans.

Yemen: Famine

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks by the Executive Director of UNICEF on 10 December 2020 at theAverting famine in Yemen: What can we do now and in 2021 event in New York; and what plans they have to coordinate international action for (1) disease prevention, (2) child nutrition, and (3) peace building in Yemen.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is extremely concerned about increased levels of food insecurity and risk of famine in Yemen with 7 million people, including 2 million children, requiring treatment for acute malnutrition. We are playing a leading role in combating hunger in Yemen by committing £214 million this financial year (2020/21), £200m of which has already been disbursed.Our support will provide over 600,000 medical consultations, train 1,500 healthcare workers to work safely in a COVID-19 environment and enable nearly 600 health centres to continue providing existing health services. This financial year (2020/21), UK aid to UNICEF has already helped to screen 450,000 children for malnutrition and enrolled over 25,000 children on Severe and Acute Malnutrition treatment programmes.The UK will continue to urge the international community to step up, including by urgently disbursing humanitarian funding. As penholder at the UN Security Council we are leading efforts to encourage all parties to the conflict to engage in new peace talks led by UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.

China: Foreign Relations

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 7 January (HL Deb, col 288), in what ways "China continues to be an important international and strategic partner" for the UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As a major economy and leading member of the international community, China has to be part of the solution to any major global problem we face; whether ensuring we do not face another devastating global health crisis, supporting vulnerable countries or addressing climate change. China is also the UK's fourth largest trading partner and total bilateral trade was worth over £76bn in the four quarters to the end of Q2 2020. There is considerable scope for constructive engagement and cooperation. But as we strive for a positive relationship, we will not sacrifice either our values or our security. We are clear-sighted about the challenges. As we continue to engage, we will always protect our national interests and hold China to its international commitments and promises.

Development Aid: Agriculture

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the UK Official Development Assistance spend is directed towards agriculture; and what percentage of that spend is directed towards (1) agroecological approaches, and (2) small farms; andwhether they benchmark those figures against the level of such provision from other countries.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government is committed to supporting the agricultural sector in developing countries. In 2018 the UK Government spent £322 million in Official Development Assistance on agriculture projects and provided significant additional funding for agriculture through its core funding of multilateral institutions working in the sector. This makes us a middle-ranking donor in the sector.Whilst the UK Government does not break down expenditure on agroecological approaches or small farms, we are supporting a wide range of programmes in both these areas. For example, we have been supporting smallholder farmers and their agriculture systems in 47 countries through our bilateral agriculture programmes as well as the multilateral flagships Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme and Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Horses: Exports

Lord Moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government, what progress has been made in agreeing a replacement of the Tripartite Agreement between the UK, France and Ireland to provide for the free movement of thoroughbred courses for racing and breeding purposes, underpinned by high standards of animal health.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: As a third country, Great Britain no longer has access to the Tripartite Agreement, however, Northern Ireland remains part of the Agreement under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Government is working closely with representatives of the equine industry to support the continued movement of all horses, including thoroughbreds, to and from the European Union. This has included clarifying the specific requirements of individual EU Border Control Posts to avoid unnecessary delays at the ports and ensuring the European Commission and EU Member States are fully aware of the detail of GB import arrangements.

Environmental Land Management Scheme

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Environmental Land Management Schemes are being established on an open data basis; and what plans they have to ensure that (1) data are available to inform local and national knowledge, and (2) rapid feedback loops are put in place so that best practice can be shared and incentivised, through such Schemes.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Environmental Land Management Scheme is being developed in partnership with farmers, other land managers and stakeholders from initial concept to full launch. We already have around 3000 farmers and other land managers involved in the Environmental Land Management Test and Trials and initial reports can be accessed on GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-land-management-tests-and-trials Ahead of full launch of the new Environmental Scheme in 2024 there will be a National Pilot, starting later this year, where the focus is on learning from farmers and other land managers as they apply different scheme components and begin to deliver outcomes. The focus will be on sharing their feedback with them and with scheme designers, building on the co-design work started through our Test and Trials and wider evidence reviews. We will use GOV.UK, open to all, to share comprehensive information about the purpose of the scheme and its components, how to apply and how best to deliver outcomes it pays for. There is already overview information published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-environmental-land-management-scheme-an-overview, with more information following in the coming months. Using feedback from farmers, other land managers and their advisers the National Pilot will help us refine and improve the information on GOV.UK relating to the new Environmental Scheme.

Home Office

Donald Trump

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the President of the United States about the outcome of the United States Presidential Election and following the riots at the United States Capitol on 6 January, what plans they have to prohibit Donald Trump from entering the UK in future.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: All foreign nationals wishing to enter the UK must comply with UK Immigration Rules.The Home Office does not comment on individual cases.

Visas: British National (Overseas)

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the potential impact of the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic on the processing ofHong Kong British National (Overseas) visa applications; and what steps they are taking to address any such impact.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Hong Kong BN(O) Visa route launches from 31 January 2021.The majority of the case working for the BN(O) Visa route can be completed remotely. A limited number of case workers will need to attend a physical office location and will do so in accordance with Public Health England guidance on social distancing.We are also working closely with the commercial partner operating our Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Hong Kong regarding overseas applicants should they need to attend an appointment. Social distancing and sanitisation protocols are in place which are aligned with local regulations, and currently the VAC is operating at normal capacity.

Visas: Skilled Workers

Lord Green of Deddington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish statistics about the operation of the new points-based immigration system under which employers could apply from 1 December 2020 to sponsor skilled workers; and which data (1) have been collected, and (2) they intend to publish.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Data relating to the new points-based immigration system will be incorporated in the tables published quarterly as part of the Immigration Statistics, which provide statistics on visa applications and outcomes by nationality.As a National Statistics output, data published by the Home Office is reviewed regularly to ensure it meets the needs of users of the statistics.

Cabinet Office

Borders: Northern Ireland

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland on the sovereignty of the UK.

Lord True: The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 was approved by Parliament on 23 January 2020. It implemented the agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union. It sets out the arrangements for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU including the Northern Ireland Protocol. As the Protocol itself makes clear, the UK as a whole, including Northern Ireland, has left the EU customs territory. The future of the Protocol is in the hands of the people of Northern Ireland, with Northern Ireland’s elected institutions to determine whether to extend or end its alignment provisions four years after the end of the transition period.

Disease Control

Lord Cashman: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of behavioural science in driving personal responsibility to ensure (1) continued hand hygiene, (2) social distancing, and (3) mask wearing; andwhat plans they have to launch public information campaigns to underline those messages and promote hygienic behaviour as a life-long habit amongst the general population to support future pandemic preparedness plans and public health strategies.

Lord True: Behavioural science has been fully embedded in Covid-19 communications since the start of the pandemic. The evidence-based principles from this field have been applied across all key campaigns, such as ‘Hands Face Space’ and ‘Stay Home, Protect NHS, Save Lives’. Behavioural science support during the pandemic has been provided by internal government teams and academic experts, including those who are members of SPI-B.Hand hygiene, social distancing and mask-wearing remain a core pillar of the on-going campaign. However, the communication response to the pandemic must be flexible and reflect restrictions aimed at the immediate threat level. This is now at the highest level, and national ‘Stay Home’ communication addresses the most pressing behavioural challenge. Life-long hygiene habits are important and are being factored into future plans, however, message discipline is imperative so we must prioritise the urgent and immediate ‘Stay Home’ behaviours.

UK Government Union Capability Independent Review

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord True on 19 November 2020 (HL Deb, cols 1535–9),whether they are now in a position to publish the Dunlop Review into UK Government Union capability.

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the principal measures they have taken to strengthen the union between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the principal measures they have taken to strengthen the Union between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Lord True: The Government is committed to protecting and promoting the combined strengths of our Union, building on 300 years of partnership. As part of this, we work closely with the devolved administrations on a variety of different policy agendas, including the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the review of intergovernmental relations.Additionally, we are undertaking a review into Union connectivity to improve links between our four nations, and to bring forward funding to accelerate infrastructure projects.It is our intention to publish Lord Dunlop’s review of Union Capability alongside the completion of the review into intergovernmental relations, to provide as full a picture as possible. We are already in the process of implementing Lord Dunlop’s recommendations and will provide a full update when the review is published.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Cricket: Coronavirus

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the impact on grassroots cricket of allowing golf clubs to reopen while retaining restrictions on cricket clubs.

Baroness Barran: Sports and physical activity, including golf and cricket, are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus.On Monday 4 January the Prime Minister announced a national lockdown and instructed people to stay at home to control the virus, protect the NHS and save lives. The National Restrictions are designed to get the R rate under control through limiting social contact and reducing transmissions. All decisions made by the Government relating to the pandemic and sport have been based on advice and guidance from health and scientific experts.You can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, in a public outdoor place and you should not travel outside your local area. You should maintain social distancing. Indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including golf courses and cricket pitches, must close.

Film and Tourism: Iraq

Lord Austin of Dudley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether there are new opportunities for British companies in (1) in the tourism sector, and (2) the film industry, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Baroness Barran: Our Departmental priority for the Kurdistan region of Iraq is to support the continuing reconstruction of its infrastructure and the protection of its cultural heritage. We work closely on this issue with the British Embassy, British Council and heritage experts from the UK and Iraq. If we are successful in protecting its cultural heritage, UK and Iraqi businesses in the tourism sector will be among the beneficiaries.

Football: Governing Bodies

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their commitment in the Conservative and Unionist Party Manifesto 2019, published on 24 November 2019, what progress they have made in setting up a "fan-led review of football governance."

Baroness Barran: Football clubs are a vital part of their local communities and must be protected, as we work to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.The Government continues to have regular discussions with the football authorities on the future direction of the sport, and how to ensure it is sustainable. We are currently deciding on the scope and structure of the fan-led review of football governance, and will announce details of this in due course.

Gambling: Video Games

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further (1) to the report by the Select Committee on the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry Gambling Harm—Time for Action, published on 2 July 2020 (HL Paper 79), and (2) to the letter to that Committee from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism and Heritage on 21 December, whether (a) secondary, or (b) primary, legislation would be required to bring loot boxes within scope of gambling regulation by defining their contents as money or money’s worth.

Baroness Barran: The government remains committed to delivering on its manifesto pledges and ensuring young and vulnerable people are protected from harm. Our bespoke call for evidence on whether loot boxes cause harm and, if so, the nature of the harm, closed in November and received more than 30,000 responses (including individual responses to the survey of players’ experiences). We will publish a government response and next steps in the coming months, including implementation details for any changes proposed.

Data Protection

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to encourage engagement with the Data Sharing Code of Practice, published by the Information Commissioner's Office on 17 December 2020.

Baroness Barran: The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent data protection regulator and has a statutory duty under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) to produce a code of practice that provides practical guidance on data sharing. The ICO is engaging with organisations to help them understand the code and promote the benefits of sharing data. Alongside the code, the ICO has launched a data sharing information hub on its website, where organisations can find clear guidance and practical tools for organisations and businesses on how to share data fairly, lawfully and transparently, while protecting people’s personal information.The Government is committed to working with the ICO to promote responsible data sharing which can have benefits for the economy and the delivery of public services. The National Data Strategy recognised that better use of data can help organisations of every kind succeed – across the public, private and third sectors. Data can be a driver of scientific and technological innovation, and central to the delivery of a whole range of vital public services and societal goals, from tackling climate change to supporting the National Health Service.